1. Conservative Resurgence and the end of the Cold War
Chapter 23 – 12 words

2. Ronald Reagan 40th President conservative Republican
Elected by a coalition of Republicans and blue-collar Democrats

3. Moral Majority
Political organization created by Jerry Falwell in 1979 to advance religious goals.
Against Roe v. Wade, Engel v. Vitale, and believed in strong Christian values in the United States

4. Reaganomics Also called supply-side economics.
Belief that by cutting taxes, people will work more and have more money to spend.
To cut the taxes and still balance the budget Gov’t needed to reduce federal spending on popular federal programs

5. Sandra Day O’Connor
1st woman nominated to Supreme Court

6. Mikhail Gorbachev Leader of the Soviet Union
Sought a different approach to dealing with the West.
Moved USSR away from hard line Communism
Negotiates START I treaty with US-reducing nuclear weapon stockpile

7. SDI-Strategic Defense Initiative
Dubbed “Star Wars” by media
Reagan’s proposal to create a defensive satellite shield for the US
Largely imaginary, but Soviet Union was afraid of it.
The initiative focused on strategic defense rather than the prior strategic offense doctrine of Mutual assured destruction (MAD).

8. “Tear down this Wall” Speech
June 12, 1987-West Berlin, Germany
Speech by Reagan challenging Gorbachev’s commitment to reform.
Wall will come down in November, 1989 and East and West Germany will reunite a year later.

9. Iran-Contra Affair Arms for hostages deal between the US and Iran.
Proceeds from arms sales went to fund Contras rebels in Nicaragua-a violation of laws passed by Congress

10. Soviet Union Collapse
After Berlin Wall and German reunification, communism is defeated in Eastern Europe.
Attempted coup fails in 1991
Former Soviet Union breaks up into 15 separate republics, largest being Russia

11. George H.W. Bush 41st President President at end of Cold War
Lost to Bill Clinton in ‘92 Election

12. Persian Gulf War Iraq invades their neighbor Kuwait, Aug. 2, 1990.
Threat to oil reserves in Saudi Arabia prompts global response, led by the US

13. Operation Desert Storm
US led attack on Iraqi forces beginning with air campaign on Jan. 16, 1991.
Iraq retaliates by launching missiles at Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Land invasion begins on Feb. 23, ends 5 days later.
Iraq agrees to leave Kuwait, but Saddam Hussein remains in charge